Chairman’s Report
From Matt Hill, our Tribal lobbyist in
Washington, D.C.:
Tribe Thanks Reps. Schrader,
Walden for Tribal Labor Vote
On Jan. 10, the U.S. House of Rep-
resentatives passed legislation called the
Tribal Labor Sovereignty Act, which was
supported by the Tribal Council. The bill
affirms the rights of Tribal governmental
employers to determine their own labor
practices on their own lands.
The 1935 National Labor Relations
Act, which provides federal protection of
trade unions, has always excluded federal,
state and local governments from its reach.
In implementing the law, the National
Labor Relations Board (NLRB) respected
the sovereign status of Tribal governmen-
tal employers for close to 70 years.
For example, in the 1980s the NLRB
ruled that the Confederated Tribes of
Warm Springs’ lumber mill was not sub-
ject to the NLRA – and that the Tribe was
wholly responsible for determining labor
standards there. In other words – that the
Tribe has sovereign authority over labor
issues on its own land.
More recently, however, the NLRB
reversed course and has aggressively
tried to assert its own jurisdiction over
Tribal labor practices when it determines
Tribal government employers are acting
in a “commercial” rather than a “govern-
mental” capacity. Such an analysis does
not apply to state or local government
employers.
The Tribal Labor Sovereignty Act
(H.R. 986) would prevent an unnecessary
and unwarranted overreach by the NLRB
into the affairs of Tribal governments. By
amending the NLRA to expressly treat
Tribal government employers and their
enterprises and institutions the same as it
treats state, local and federal government
employers, H.R. 986 would provide cor-
rective guidance to the NLRB and bring
parity to Tribal government employers
across the nation.
Of the five Oregon delegates to the
U.S. House of Representatives, only Rep.
Kurt Schrader (D-OR) and Rep. Greg
Walden (R-OR) sided with Tribes and
voted for the bill. I would like to person-
ally thank these congressmen for stepping
up and defending Tribes from an unwar-
ranted overreach from the NLRB. This
legislation and their votes reaffirm Tribal
governmental sovereignty.
The Tribal Labor Sovereignty Act
passed by a vote of 239-173 and now
heads to the U.S. Senate for consideration.
Delores Pigsley
Remembering our dear friend and co-worker
Cathern Elizabeth Tufts, Siletz Tribal member and staff attorney for the Con-
federated Tribes of Siletz Indians, passed away Jan. 23, 2018, from complications
of influenza. She was 53.
Cat was preceded in death by her mother, Mary. Survivors include her father,
Dennis Tufts, and brother, Bill Tufts, and his wife, Mary.
Kind and caring, Cat always had a smile and warm greeting for others. She
could engage in conversation with anyone – from elders to youth. Hardworking and
dedicated, Cat routinely worked well past quitting time. She volunteered at nearly
all the elders woodcuts – among the first to show up and the last to leave.
Cat was not all work and no play. A music lover, she traveled great distances with
family and friends to concerts by her favorite artists, like John Prine and Lyle Lovett.
Her family was a priority and she made time to enjoy their company, including annual
outings such as traveling to Arizona with her dad last year to attend a Seahawks game.
Cat had many wonderful qualities and touched the lives of many. She always
gave her heart and soul for the betterment of the Siletz Tribe and its people and for
that we are forever grateful to have known her.
Siletz News is free to enrolled Siletz Tribal members. For all others, a $12
annual subscription fee applies. Please make checks payable to CTSI and mail
to Siletz News.
Name: _______________________________________________________
Elders Council Meeting
Feb. 10 • 1-4 p.m.
Chinook Winds Golf Resort
For more information, contact the Elders Program at
800-922-1399, ext. 1261, or 541-444-8261.
Address: _____________________________________________________
Phone: _______________________________________________________
Change of address: Tribal members – contact the Enrollment Depart-
ment at 541-444-8258; 800-922-1399, ext. 1258; or enrollment@ctsi.nsn.us.
All others – call the newspaper office.
Deadline for the March
issue is Feb. 9.
Send information to:
Submission of articles and
photos is encouraged.
Siletz News
P.O. Box 549
Siletz, OR 97380-0549
Please see the Passages
Policy on page 20 when sub-
mitting items for Passages.
541-444-8291 or
800-922-1399, ext. 1291
Fax: 541-444-2307
Email: pias@ctsi.nsn.us
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February 2018
Nuu-wee-ya’ (our words)
Introduction to the Athabaskan language
Open to Tribal members of all ages
Siletz
Siletz Tribal Community Center
Feb. 5 – 6-8 p.m.
March 5 – 6-8 p.m.
Portland
Portland Area Office
Feb. 12 – 6-8 p.m.
March 12 – 6-8 p.m.
Eugene
Eugene Area Office
Feb. 6 – 6-8 p.m.
March 6 – 6-8 p.m.
Salem
Salem Area Office
Feb. 13 – 6-8 p.m.
March 13 – 6-8 p.m.
Classes begin with basic instruction and progress over the year. They also
are a refresher course for more-advanced students. Come and join other members
of your community and Tribe in learning to speak one of our ancient languages.
We also have equipment in the Cultural Department available for use in
grinding and drilling shell or pine nuts or other applications. If you need to use
the equipment, call the number below to set up an appointment.
For more information, contact Bud Lane at the Siletz Cultural Department
at 541-444-8320 or 800-922-1399, ext. 1320; or e-mail budl@ctsi.nsn.us.